The National tribune., 1887-07-14
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns


"
IA that memorable battle, aud who were also
personally comlhimonted by Gen. Mcclellan.
III 1 rccOliect rightly the old 33d n. \. WAS IN
that engHg ameut and materially aided Gen.
Hancock ia winning the day. IL am not mis-
taken three companies oi the $50 n. Y, VIZ. Is,
q aud *. were left under LieuL-tol. Corning
% guard the forks of the road, while the bal
ance Of the 33d, the 9th WIS.,, 49th pa. aud
9th aud 9th Me. crossed IuE's Creek on the
dam referred 10 Ia MIR. MChmneys article.
After the main force crossed these three COM
panies were ordered forward, AMI took posses
sion Of the first fort, Maj. Platuel being left in
command o. lhgm. lIUut.-C0l. Corning took
Cos. A, ID and A. the regimontal colors and
Color Guard, aud occupied another fort. or
abandoned redoubt, aud our beautiful nag
waved there all through the conflict which
ensusd on that 5gh of May, 1862. Col Taylor,
of the SD N. Y, took the remaining COM
panios-C, h. III aud Ito the woods az the
right and front aud dcployed them as Skin
mshers during that day.
The enemy We're pos ed in Fort Magruder,
and Mheeers aud Cowan's batteries com
mencod Smelling the enemy's position. They
were supported by the 9TH Wis, 9th Me. and
4gth Pa on the lett The artillery kept mp a
fire until O'Clock in the afternoon, when Gen.
Mcclellan arrived upon the opposite side of
Kings Creek. Several hours followed his ar
rival before hostilitlcs again commenced upon
our part Near nigntfa the rebels were dis
covered approaching us from the direction Of
Williamsburg. aud the boys at once knew what
that meant. We know they intended 10 capt
ure our small force or drive us into the creek
At this iuncture Gen. Hancock ordered the
batteries and infantry supports 20 fall back. and
they did "a, engaging the enemy as they retired.
Companies A, ID and Il of the SD n. Y. were
then ordered out of the fort, or rcdOubt, which
they had til then been holding, into line of
battle. The Color Sergeant and guard, how
eyer, remained 90 defend and keep unfurled
he old nag. The 9Th Me. was posted IN line at
The right oil the 33d \. Y. aud the 9th Wis.
6rh Me. and 49th Pa formed on the left of the
33d Here VIC were all Ia a most trying sitna-
ton We fired rapidly, but made only slight
impression upon the rebels, WAC seemed 10 be
coming down GA us with the bosom of destruc-
ton They came within 80 or 20 wards OF us
aud IN perfect order of battle. The right and
left OF our line began To waver, and many
stout hearts began TO donit our ability 10 stand
before tne approaching columns
AT this critical moment. when all seemed
past help and irptricvahiy lost, Lieut.-Co
Corning, OF the Bod n. Y, shouted to Col. Tay-
lOr who was just coming from the skirmish-
line: Nothing hut charge can check them "
Taylor replied, "A charge IL shall be" and
immediately he waved Ills sword Ia the air and
shouted A." Forward, men ChaTCe-bayonets !"
Our brave men sprang forward On the double
quick 20 the fearful charge. The three COM
psnies Of the BID n. Y. calamity went
iOrth Ia charge a whole division OF the enemy /;
and, seeing their brave example. other rcgi-
ments followed TO the conflict, which resulted
IN breaking the encmy's line and scattering
them like sheep in wild confusion over the
plains most murdcrous fire followed the
flying gray backs until they reached their
intrenchmonts More than 200 dead rebels lay
Oh the Geld o. hattie. including the Lieutenant
Colonel and MAYOR OF the 2ith Va and a Cap
tain on MagrudoIs staff.
This exploit decided the fortunes of the day,
and turned what was supposed a defeat the
left into brilliant victory. The four cOmpa-
mics Of the $50 n. Y.--C H. i aud l-were not
idle spectators. Capt Root, OF Co. i, with only
- oil las men, took 40 rebel prisoners during
the engagement and marched them TO the re-
doubt la triumph Capt. Cole with Co. G. took
81 prisoners, aud a private of this company,
not being satisfied with making the rebel
EtTagglors surrender by giving up their arms
maze the prisoners get down on their knees
and surrender Internationally. Down on
your knees, d-n you" WAS his order 20 every
one, lie aud Others of this company were
siterward highly complimented in a special
order.
Separated as these four companies were and
IS ] might say, each fighting on It's own
hook" it War a marvel that they were not all
captured by the rebels; but they acquitted
themselves like men ANA brave soldiers, effect
nearly as many prisoners they numbered
men. TIE Old 35d \. y. captured alone $50
prisoners and won deserved praise from the
Nhole army TOT its persistent aud gallant
charge on this occasion. Tie following night
the enemy le1l the city and all their works and
retresteu 10 thc ChicEahomuy. The 33d 5 ept
on their arms that night and on the next day
oBcamped near York River.
Here is a bt OF history connected with the
old sd y. A., which Dir. Mckinney in his
communication seems 10 overlook or forget
On Tho evening OF May z, ls62 Gen. Mcclellan
Oh his bay charger, came into camp, and alter
the BID n. y. was drawn up in line he ad-
dressed them Ia the following words:
Officers and soldiers Of the 33d; ] have come TO
thanA you ln person for gallant conduct on the
bcla 81 battle CA ihe 5th inst 1 Will cav 10 YOU
slsn have said 10 other regiments engaged with
you; All dld well--did ali could expect bat you
aid more, you DelaA ed like Veterans You are vet
Grams keierass Of a hundred battles could not
have done bclleri Those ola your lefl fought we'll
but you won the DAY! You were at the right
poiiii, oia tIe right lining aud nj the right time
You shall have " Williamsburg inscribed your
banner.
IL may not be too much TO say In this con-
Dec,ion THAI in littie over one year from the
date OF the battle OF Williamsburg when at
0cncva, n. Y, 10 be mustered out OF service
bbe Bad was there rendered a mRgn ifcent wei
eoune 10y the citizens OF that place. ID was here
that hon. Charles J f0lger addressed the rcgi.
he made use Of the following language:
You have brought back with you your colors
the in-i hllng which q brave regiment surrcndcrs
THESE coioIs have never been surrendered btve
hrFsf been rcpuised have never bren driven hack
sn'e never r'ife"ted, savc - the order OF the
General commanding and when a whole army or
the whole ioTce Tell back with them. . Torn
% shot aud shell dim with the stain OF the ,.le,-
0cHis hp0'ied with tie oOd al lie brave defenders
and iaied from tne bright hues which were firsd
uhiufa 10 tie sunlight these culOrs y,t bear uuon
hi'n one word which h. a sunbeam Itself
~ Williamsburg inscribed there for gallant CON
nh"i hhd persistent, obdurnle bravery on the field
~ nn order delivered 10 YOU from Tie month ~
your tomninndcr-in-C Chief Oirorge B Mctg,llAu
On the following Monday. May 25. 1863 the
$50 received a splendid ovation from the citi-
Gems Of Canandasua, NY, where j. T.. Faurot.
esq "a addressing the regiment, made use of
the following language:
Al NilliamrburR-that desperate confici-vou
exhibited daring, a high ana ennotiling courage
unsurpassed ili nltrictt modern timer: A daring
Shat kncN no fear; resolution as int,n,,yal,e a.
deternned az that of the most daring ,ts aud
veterans oi krvo uiionaTy fame. For your uobe
eOniue your deeds of vHl0T there tie name of
ihnnsbuTg was inscribed upon your banner
6y order Of your great ceitain George H. Nc.
Clclinn
Al the close of this ovation the torn and
stained banner of the 33d WAS returned 70 the
ladies OF CanandaiRua, who had two years be-
Tore presented II 10 That regiment When this
beautiful nag was presented TO the regiment II
numbered about 500 men; WHOM tie flag w,s
returned 10 thom on this occasion there were
not 400 leit.-JOsEPH J.. JACKSON Co n 3ad